Despite an exciting playoff run with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, Mapleton native Nick Spaling won’t be drinking from the Stanley Cup this year.
The Sharks were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won 3-1 in game six of the final series in San Jose on June 12. Pittsburgh won the series four games to two.
Spaling, who began the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, joined the Sharks in a Feb. 22 trade. Spaling and defenceman Roman Polak went to San Jose in exchange for two second-round draft selections and minor leaguer Raffi Torres.
Prior to the trade, Spaling recorded one goal and six assists in 35 games with Toronto. During the rest of the regular season in San Jose he added two goals and four assists in 23 games.
Spaling played in all 24 of the Sharks’ playoff games this year, recording an assist and six penalty minutes and playing a prominent role on the team’s penalty killing unit.
During the final series the Drayton Kinettes hosted a community Stanley Cup party at the PMD arena auditorium whenever the games were on.
In addition to giving local residents an opportunity to watch the games together, the events, which included food and beverage sales, raised funds for a planned splash pad in Drayton.
Mayor Neil Driscoll commended the club for hosting the well-attended events.
“It was great to see so many people out and they brought their kids so that’s great,” said Driscoll.
